Lemon Boy

Chapter 4

TJ felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He reached in and pulled it out. His felt his face light up as he saw the name on the screen. It was Cyrus.

TJ picked up the phone and cradled it against his ear.

"Hey Cyrus, what's up?"

"The plan. We have to call it off."

"What? Why? What happened?"

"Jonah broke up with Andi."

"I thought that's what you wanted."

"I-I thought so too, but now-"

"Now what?"

"It isn't right. Even if they're wrong for each other, even if I like Jonah. We- I don't think we should do this anymore."

"Cyrus, we've come this far. Think of what we could to now. We could get your foot in the door with Jonah. You could have a real shot at being his boyfriend."

"We don't even know that he's not straight, how can you-"

"You're Cyrus Goodman. If Jonah Beck could fall for any guy, he'd fall for you."

TJ heard Cyrus's breathing on the other end of the phone.

"Fine. But I have one condition."

"What is it?"

"I'll explain tomorrow."

.~.

As the doorbell rang, TJ bounded down the stairs. He could do this, he would help Cyrus end up with Jonah, and then everything would-

TJ opened the door. In front of him stood Cyrus. And next to him-

"Buffy."

"TJ."

Cyrus waved a hand between them.

"Hello? I'm also here?"

TJ sighed. He should've known Cyrus was going to do something crazy if he was that anxious about this.

"Come in," TJ said, motioning for them to come inside.

They all tramped up the stairs and down the hall into TJ's room. Cyrus plopped down on the bed. Buffy stood next to them, her arms still crossed. And TJ sank down into his desk chair, half convinced that Cyrus had hired Buffy to take him out.

"So." He said, testing the waters.

"Cyrus said you had something to tell me."

"Right..."

TJ started down at his shoes.

"Buffy, I-I'm sorry. I only acted the way I did because I felt like my position on the team was being threatened, and, well, I was jealous. And it was wrong of me to ask you to cheat for me, and to rat you out to Coleman. I should've found a better way to handle everything. I have...issues. Especially with my anger. And I need to find a better way to deal with them. But that doesn't excuse my behavior towards you. I-I hope you can see how sorry I am, and find it in you to forgive me one day."

"Wow, TJ." Cyrus beamed at him, and TJ felt his heart flutter a bit.

"But I meant the other thing."

TJ frowned. What was Cyrus-Oh.

"No. We're not telling her." He said, shaking his head.

This was the wrong move.

"What do you mean, 'you're not telling her?' What are you keeping from me, Cyrus."

"I'm sorry, it was TJ's idea."